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Lisburn open for business

WHEN Arctic weather hit Lisburn this week the city struggled to cope with
the snow and plummeting temperatures.

In what should have been the busiest shopping weekend of the year,
shoppers avoided going out and shops suffered a cold commercial climate
being remarkably quiet just a few days before Christmas.

However, city centre traders were hoping that trade would pickup with a
late surge in the final days before Christmas. And Lisburn City Council said
it was doing its best to keep Lisburn's main shopping streets clear of ice,
sending out the message that 'Lisburn is open for business'.
Karen Marshall, the manager of the Bow Street Mall said business was down
compared to the same period last year but that things were starting to
improve.

The return of the snow and freezing temperatures has certainly put the
chill factor into trade in what should have been the busiest weekend of the
year," she said. "The early part of last week was good, however Friday was
particularly badly hit due to the weather.

"Trade did pick up slightly on Saturday and Sunday with lots of visitors
coming to the centre on foot, though the figures for the week were still
down on last year.

"With so many people out on foot, we would urge the relevant authorities
to do what they can to keep the footpaths clear for the benefit of customers
and businesses at this time," she continued.

"Thanks to the team here at the Centre, the Mall and car park has been
open every day for business, including the additional hours that we open
during the Christmas period. Thankfully Lisburn has many a hardy customer
who is willing to brave the conditions to continue with their Christmas
shopping and pick up bargains in the sales that some retailers have already
started.

"Trade on Monday was good and we hope that will continue right up until
Christmas.

" The Chairman of Lisburn's City Centre Management, Councillor Allan
Ewart commented: Most retailers believed that after the first snowfall at
the end of November cleared, business would pick up to make up for any lost
trade. However the most recent and heavier snowfall has just come at the
wrong time as far as the traders are concerned and dented these hopes.

"Despite this I would like to look at some positives to come out of the
situation, many local people, who may have previously done their Christmas
shopping outside Lisburn, have given the City their business this year. I am
sure that the atmosphere and the offering within the City will be enough to
encourage these people back more regularly in future," he added.

Lisburn City Council, in conjunction with Roads Service have been
gritting Lisburn's
main shopping streets and the Mayor, Alderman Paul Porter, "We want to send
a message that Lisburn is very much open for business. Where possible, the
Council will assist the Roads Service in trying to keep city centre footways
and pedestrian areas clear and look at extending this temporary service to
other areas of the City centre."

The Chairman of the Council's Environmental Services Committee added:
"The Council has volunteered, where it can, to help those responsible for
gritting and clearing roads and I would like to thank all our staff for
their hard work in this regard," he said. "We will continue to help out
where we can during these freezing and snowy conditions."